uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
10 places
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Cape Vulture
Gyps coprotheresVulnerable
The Cape griffon or Cape vulture (Gyps coprotheres), also known as Kolbe's vulture, is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae.
Species insights
When to visit
Recorded year-round
Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.
Best monthsAny month
Recorded in KwaZulu-Natal~283 records
Curve from 1,179 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property and not from this province. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Where you'll find it
KwaZulu-Natal and beyond
Provinces where Cape Vulture is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,179 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Cape Vulture
Stays that give back
Across KwaZulu-Natal
Antbear Eco Lodge
Estcourt
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 2,000 a night
Tandweni Villa
Mkuze
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · African elephant · Cape buffalo
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 14,000 a night
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Common eland
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust and 1 other
From R 6,800 a night
Cobham
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Cape Vulture recorded here · Grassland biome · Southern rock agama · Tree fuchsia
From R 190 a night
Garden Castle
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Cape Vulture recorded here · Grassland biome · Southern rock agama · Cape heath
From R 190 a night
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Cape Vulture recorded here · Savanna biome · African wild dog · Spotted hyena
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
Monk's Cowl
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Cape Vulture recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 130 a night
Kamberg
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Cape Vulture recorded here · Grassland biome · Tree fuchsia · Black wildebeest
From R 840 a night
Kosi Forest Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Forest biome · Hippopotamus · Nile crocodile
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation and 1 other
Price on request
Lotheni
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Cape Vulture recorded here · Grassland biome · Southern rock agama · Common eland
From R 270 a night
Highmoor
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Cape Vulture recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 200 a night
Royal Natal (Thendele, Mahai & Rugged Glen)
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Cape Vulture recorded here · Grassland biome · Chacma baboon · Bushbuck
From R 360 a night
Ithala (Ntshondwe)
Ithala Game Reserve
Cape Vulture recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
From R 130 a night
Injisuthi
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Cape Vulture recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 170 a night
Didima (Cathedral Peak)
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Cape Vulture recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Tree fuchsia
From R 1,070 a night
Giant's Castle
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Cape Vulture recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 1,150 a night
More stays nearby
Kingfisher Cove Umdloti
Umdloti, Ballito
Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
From R 13,000 a night
The Cavern Drakensberg Resort & Spa
Drakensberg, Bergville
Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 4,280 a night
Makongo Hills Lodge
Magudu
Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Zululand Conservation Trust
From R 1,280 a night
Sasi Bush Lodge
Bergville
Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust and 2 others
From R 5,400 a night
Duma Manzi Wilderness & Wellness Retreat
Richmond
Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
From R 5,990 a night
Sungubala Eco Camp
Drakensberg, Bergville
Grassland biome · Spotted hyena · Leopard
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 1,140 a night
Drakensberg Vultures View
Cathkin Park
Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 1,691 a night
Thonga Beach Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Forest biome · Humpback whale · Southern right whale
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
The Elephant Coast
Next stop
iSimangaliso wetlands, sand forest, and Sodwana reefs
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Cape Vulture
Hosts have recorded the Cape Vulture at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Giants Castle Game Reserve and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.
Best hours of the day
- Late morning to mid-afternoon. Raptors soar once the sun raises thermals.
- Early morning. Often perched while the air warms.
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
IUCN Red List
Vulnerable
Species
Gyps coprotheres
Records
1,179
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Cape Vulture on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Cape Vulture in KwaZulu-Natal?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Cape Vulture at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Giants Castle Game Reserve, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Ithala Game Reserve and Kamberg Nature Reserve and other reserves. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.
Where can you see the Cape Vulture in South Africa?
The Cape Vulture is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (24% of records), Western Cape (17% of records), Limpopo (15% of records), based on 1,179 iNaturalist observations. 16 places to stay on Spekboom in KwaZulu-Natal have recorded the Cape Vulture on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Cape Vulture?
The Cape Vulture is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Giants Castle Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; iSimangaliso Wetland Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the Cape Vulture?
The Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres) is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Cape Vulture?
The Cape griffon or Cape vulture (Gyps coprotheres), also known as Kolbe's vulture, is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae. It is endemic to southern Africa, and is found mainly in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana and in some parts of northern Namibia. It nests on cliffs and lays one egg per year. Since 2015, it has been classified as Endangered.